Venice was such a magical city. I had heard that it was overcrowded, smelly and ridiculously priced, yet I couldn't imagine not making a trip to see it. Kent and I left Florence on a train to Venice. We were excited to leave Florence and we're hopeful that Venice would be all that we had expected. Most people arrive into Venice via the train. Some do have a car and park it essentially at a park in ride and then hop a boat or train. It was so cool to literally walk out of the train station and find yourself on the Grand Canal.
Here is a photo of Kent standing outside the train station. You are literally just smack dab in the middle of this small and confusing island. I knew that we needed to take a vaporetto (water ferry) and I thought we knew the right one, but unfortunately we did not walk far enough down the station and we hopped on the wrong ferry. This left us on the other side of the canal and we were beginning to feel the weight of our luggage. I was wheeling around two big bags and Kent was carrying the rest. That wine we purchased was no longer a good idea, it was heavy as hell. Kent was amazing at finding our B&B, because I could not make heads or tails over a map of the city. Thank goodness this is a little island as it helps your mind relax and know that at some point you will figure out where you are going. If you hit the water, you turn around and go another way.
Here are a few photos of Venice, the Grand Canal, etc.
Our first day in Venice we walked around the city and did our best to get our bearings. We discussed what we wanted to do. We didn't have specific plans or any reservations. We ate the best pizza, like gorged ourselves at a small place around the corner from our B&B. Later that night, as the city lights came on, we hopped on the ferry and sat outside (it was freezing) and glided through the city. It was so beautiful. The architecture inside and outside of the buildings. I wondered what type of parties were once held in these palaces, what famous faces and events took place. We did have one celebrity sighting, Charlize Theron. Kent can always spot the stars, it drives me crazy. When we returned home I realized that Selma Hyak was married that week-end we were in Venice and BONO, yes, BONO was in the city for the wedding. I might have thrown myself into the canal if I had cruised by and saw him in a window! To be so close to my man...yet so far...aahhhhhhhhh.
Kent and I decided the next day that we were going to a small chain of islands outside of Venice. The weather was amazing and I love the ferry system, so we hopped on a boat and went to Murano and Burano. Murano is famous for glass, and Burano is famous for lace. These two islands were so quaint. We did splurge and buy some seriously beautiful glasses and vases, I love them so much. I am not much into doilies, but I did buy a beautiful handkerchief.
What was shocking about these two islands was the colors of the buildings. I felt like I was on an island in the Bahamas, not an island(s) in Italy. The weather was amazing and it really lent to the beauty of these two islands.
Unfortunately the weather did not stay this way. The rain came and I mean it came. It rained so much that by our last day in Venice the city was beginning to flood. We were only in Venice for 3 days and 2 nights, but it was so much fun to see the water coming over the canals and onto the streets. The locals had their rain boots on and we walked over planks to get to our destinations.
On our final day we went to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, which is actually in the home she lived in, located right on the canal. It is an incredible collection of modern art, a true highlight of our visit. We discovered a truly fun wine bar that also helped us stay out of the rain. Kent and I were going to be catching an 11:30pm train out of Venice and onto our next destination, so our last day in Venice we did not have anywhere to relax for a bit, so this wine bar was a hit. I loved how my baby packable umbrella looked against all of these strong masculine umbrellas.
I knew that nobody was going to take my little flowered one.
Venice was a great city. The architecture was amazing. Seeing how the locals lived and how everything literally is put on a boat and floated down the canal was cool. The people were very friendly and it was no more expensive than Rome. We did not go on a Gondola ride. They are so expensive, and the water was really just too choppy. I don't regret it one bit. I love my beautiful items I purchased and spending my time with the man I love in this very romantic city.
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